It’s decisive, isn’t it? Snip. Snap. And the work is done. At least the taut-warp, grid-centric, over-under, mystery-of-months-ago part is done. The yarn has come together. The loom has come apart. A previously unknown idea rests casually on a bed.
Congrats on another wonderful project, but especially for sharing. I love the stylistic curved lines. A red horizon and blue sky done in artful braille. Beautiful!
Yes, Sarah, it can be found in Peter’s book. That’s where I learned it many, many years ago. I love the stark simplicity of this tapestry. A few simple lines and shapes. Limited color palette. Beautiful. Makes me want to get my loom out and warp it up.
Thank you Bonnie --both for the Collingwood confirmation and your lovely words about the new tapestry. Stark simplicity -- just the right words. Who knew a decade ago that this is where satisfaction was to be found?
Loved watching all those finishing off videos! Did I tell you I got a rigid heddle loom? Yeah, I borrowed one from a friend and it delighted me so I've been making what I call tapestry towels. I just finished one using wedge weave. I hemstitch them and leave a 1"-ish fringe. I refuse to hem them "properly". I like my towels with some personality. By the way, what are those green, trumpet looking things in your photograph? They also delight me! Some kind of lichen??
Tapestry towels--brilliant. And what fun to use wedge weave. I'm impressed and thrilled for you. Also all in favor of the hem stitched/fringed edges.
I've no idea what the little green moss/lichen trumpets are. They were just growing there in the moss and I fell in love and zoomed in. Perhaps I should check my field guide!
Hi Sarah, I've never seen the finishing twist done..I have a new Chloe and just tried fringes on it ..both ends are done ..I'm still thinking about the main design..the finishing twist is so cool! I have a 10 year hitch coming up hopefully soon..I havecat least 2 years at sea coming up..can't wait! The fresh salt air! Blessings I'll hopefully be able to stay in touch
Two years at sea. OH MY WORD. How fantastic for you. I hope you can stay in touch as well-- and also perhaps relish the times when you are gloriously out of touch with land but utterly in touch with all that salty air.
Hi Sarah, I've never seen the finishing twist done..I have a new Chloe and just tried fringes on it ..both ends are done ..I'm still thinking about the main design..the finishing twist is so cool! I have a 10 year hitch coming up hopefully soon..I havecat least 2 years at sea coming up..can't wait! The fresh salt air! Blessings I'll hopefully be able to stay in touch
Just want you to know that keeping an eye on oneself as you do, is contagious! I know, I know, it is Beryl who is watching! 🤗 My watcher is Cary Grant, a black tuxedo cat that loves classical music. 'Cary' to his friends. His eyes don't miss much and are often telling what he thinks of my silly ways.
You out did yourself with this post. The tapestries are lovely and have such winning ways! So inspiring! And I feel I must add that the videos and explanations are real keepers. Thank you for them too!
It's a funny thing isn't it --the animal companion as watcher/ self-reflection companion. Their thoughts are ours -- sort of? Infinitely helpful either way. Hurray for Cary and his own telling observations...
And I"m so glad the videos etc are helpful. Really good to know.
Dang, I wish you wrote this yesterday! Cut off two small tapestries, twined the warps and made a braid, but then there’s the warps sticking up the back. I’ve had bad experiences with cotton warps wiggling out if I just cut them, so I painstakingly hand stitched each one down and cut them about an inch long. But I don’t like it. I never tried machine sewing across, and I feel a little uncertain about it, but I’m going to go try it right now. I enjoy seeing what Beryl is up to but I learn so much watching how you weave.
I imagine your ends are just beautiful with the ends all woven back in -- though having done that myself I know how hard it can be. When I've done it (hoping for an extra tidy edge or wanting to avoid the final braid) the selvedges have ended up pulling in a little -- at least if the warp had any thickness it all. Not a bad thing of course, just not always what I always have in mind.
The sewing machine thing I actually learned from Rebecca Mezoff (who, I think, learned it from James Koehler but I an't swear to this), and instantly adopted it with no regrets! At any rate, it's nice to have options
…and THIS is why one paints one’s wall 50% grey (or thereabouts) - so as to provide the perfect neutral background for photographing one’s finished Things(!) 😂
That one grey wall has been more useful than I ever could have imagined. I actually tried photographing this tapestry against other backgrounds and the lovely coffee filter colors got all washed out and sort of drab looking. There is something about that slightly blue/grey that makes most of the things I make look simply marvelous. Totally worth doing!
Thank you so much for this lovely and informative post, per usual, Sarah. Jam packed with useful protips, while still holding your calm, meditative tone I treasure so much. Much love to you and Beryl on this interminable winters day! 🫶🏼
Thank you Kelly! I so appreciate your lovely words -- and I hope your interminable winter day has moved on into something a little more pleasant by now...
We aren’t far from one another - I’m in western Washington - so as you know, winter hasn’t quite moved on just yet this year, though signs of spring are hovering just out of reach. Lambs are due next week(!) Now if only this interminable mud would just dry up… but I am very much enjoying the longer days coming this year. May your coming year be your most blessed yet, Sarah
OH golly -- lambs!!! What bliss--if more blissful if everyone isn't totally muddy. We're supposedly in for a couple of days more of rain and then nearly a week of sun. VERY excited about this. And I trust/hope that you get it all at the same time, or maybe even sooner...
Fortunately everyone is shorn already so the babies can find their mama’s teats without fear of endless futile attempts at latching on to muddy filthy wool instead {shudder}. Ah, the vagaries of shepherding in wet western Cascadia!
I so prefer watching you finish rather than embarking on my own. 😳🤣 Thank you so much for sharing. And do You love your scissors ✂️ ? They make an exquisite sound that sounds like they are super sharp!
H! Like helping someone else clean their house rather than taking up mop and broom on one's own floors.... I have found that if I go right at it I'm far more successful at doing finish work. Putting it off just leads to more putting it off. If I can just "trick" myself into doing one tiny step to begin, I soon find I"m IN IT--which is so very helpful for some crazy reason.
Yes, all the finishing techniques. of which you have given us such lovely videos, are in Peter Collingwood's book and are ones that I used for so many linen warp rugs - having learned from those pages. With one tiny exception: I am not friends with sewing machines, even though I have one. It does make a useful weight to keep the weaving from shifting around while playing with warps.
Sewing machine as weight--another brilliant Michael Rohde invention. Well, except given that mine is a treadle in a cabinet I'd have to work on the floor. I have a covered brick and a bowl of stones and shells that I use to hold the tapestry steady while I tug and twine. Love knowing we're doing the same things-- and that Peter Collingwood made sure it all happened.
Peter Collingwood has launched so many of us on our collective textile journeys, has he not? We owe so much the techniques he (and you) have taught us…
Wool Girl - so true for me. I like using other plant fibers more in basket weaving and keep the two in their wonderful places in my life. (So much to learn....) I really appreciated seeing you weave the ends and finishing the boarders. I have been doing that but to see the 8 warp twine was a pleasure. It's about the hands.......Thank you Sarah!!
YOu're so welcome Eileen. And yes to the fascinating personalities of plant and wool fibers and who wants to be where--and when. It took me so long to fall for plant fibers as weft, and even so, when I go back to wool I'm amazed at how receptive and supple it is. And lightweight! A linen tapestry is a dense creature to be sure.... Both of us Wool girls at heart forever, methinks
Excellent post and videos!! Thank you so much for showing all the finishing process. It's not my favorite part (for weaving or knitting), but I'm trying to see it as a 'meditation time.' I also love the photo of little mushrooms! There is a whole universe down there! Maybe you have read "Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses" by Robin Wall Kimmerer? Thanks!
I do indeed know The book Gathering Moss. It's on my "to read" pile. Maybe time to bring it closer to the top as those little beauties are just so magical, are they not..
Congrats on another wonderful project, but especially for sharing. I love the stylistic curved lines. A red horizon and blue sky done in artful braille. Beautiful!
I love getting think of the sky as braille. Thank you for that Alex.
Yes, Sarah, it can be found in Peter’s book. That’s where I learned it many, many years ago. I love the stark simplicity of this tapestry. A few simple lines and shapes. Limited color palette. Beautiful. Makes me want to get my loom out and warp it up.
Thank you Bonnie --both for the Collingwood confirmation and your lovely words about the new tapestry. Stark simplicity -- just the right words. Who knew a decade ago that this is where satisfaction was to be found?
Loved watching all those finishing off videos! Did I tell you I got a rigid heddle loom? Yeah, I borrowed one from a friend and it delighted me so I've been making what I call tapestry towels. I just finished one using wedge weave. I hemstitch them and leave a 1"-ish fringe. I refuse to hem them "properly". I like my towels with some personality. By the way, what are those green, trumpet looking things in your photograph? They also delight me! Some kind of lichen??
Tapestry towels--brilliant. And what fun to use wedge weave. I'm impressed and thrilled for you. Also all in favor of the hem stitched/fringed edges.
I've no idea what the little green moss/lichen trumpets are. They were just growing there in the moss and I fell in love and zoomed in. Perhaps I should check my field guide!
Hi Sarah, I've never seen the finishing twist done..I have a new Chloe and just tried fringes on it ..both ends are done ..I'm still thinking about the main design..the finishing twist is so cool! I have a 10 year hitch coming up hopefully soon..I havecat least 2 years at sea coming up..can't wait! The fresh salt air! Blessings I'll hopefully be able to stay in touch
A great piece of work..
Two years at sea. OH MY WORD. How fantastic for you. I hope you can stay in touch as well-- and also perhaps relish the times when you are gloriously out of touch with land but utterly in touch with all that salty air.
Hi Sarah, I've never seen the finishing twist done..I have a new Chloe and just tried fringes on it ..both ends are done ..I'm still thinking about the main design..the finishing twist is so cool! I have a 10 year hitch coming up hopefully soon..I havecat least 2 years at sea coming up..can't wait! The fresh salt air! Blessings I'll hopefully be able to stay in touch
A great piece of work..
Just want you to know that keeping an eye on oneself as you do, is contagious! I know, I know, it is Beryl who is watching! 🤗 My watcher is Cary Grant, a black tuxedo cat that loves classical music. 'Cary' to his friends. His eyes don't miss much and are often telling what he thinks of my silly ways.
You out did yourself with this post. The tapestries are lovely and have such winning ways! So inspiring! And I feel I must add that the videos and explanations are real keepers. Thank you for them too!
It's a funny thing isn't it --the animal companion as watcher/ self-reflection companion. Their thoughts are ours -- sort of? Infinitely helpful either way. Hurray for Cary and his own telling observations...
And I"m so glad the videos etc are helpful. Really good to know.
Dang, I wish you wrote this yesterday! Cut off two small tapestries, twined the warps and made a braid, but then there’s the warps sticking up the back. I’ve had bad experiences with cotton warps wiggling out if I just cut them, so I painstakingly hand stitched each one down and cut them about an inch long. But I don’t like it. I never tried machine sewing across, and I feel a little uncertain about it, but I’m going to go try it right now. I enjoy seeing what Beryl is up to but I learn so much watching how you weave.
I imagine your ends are just beautiful with the ends all woven back in -- though having done that myself I know how hard it can be. When I've done it (hoping for an extra tidy edge or wanting to avoid the final braid) the selvedges have ended up pulling in a little -- at least if the warp had any thickness it all. Not a bad thing of course, just not always what I always have in mind.
The sewing machine thing I actually learned from Rebecca Mezoff (who, I think, learned it from James Koehler but I an't swear to this), and instantly adopted it with no regrets! At any rate, it's nice to have options
“I have no idea if fringelessly is a word.”
I create new words whenever I need one.
Perhaps the OED of 3024 will reference your newsletter as first use of the word.
HA! what a delicious thing to imagine the 3024 OED. Thanks for that piece of delight!
…and THIS is why one paints one’s wall 50% grey (or thereabouts) - so as to provide the perfect neutral background for photographing one’s finished Things(!) 😂
(Photographing and displaying, I should’ve said ;)
That one grey wall has been more useful than I ever could have imagined. I actually tried photographing this tapestry against other backgrounds and the lovely coffee filter colors got all washed out and sort of drab looking. There is something about that slightly blue/grey that makes most of the things I make look simply marvelous. Totally worth doing!
May your success be an inspiration to all, Sarah!
Thank you so much for this lovely and informative post, per usual, Sarah. Jam packed with useful protips, while still holding your calm, meditative tone I treasure so much. Much love to you and Beryl on this interminable winters day! 🫶🏼
Thank you Kelly! I so appreciate your lovely words -- and I hope your interminable winter day has moved on into something a little more pleasant by now...
We aren’t far from one another - I’m in western Washington - so as you know, winter hasn’t quite moved on just yet this year, though signs of spring are hovering just out of reach. Lambs are due next week(!) Now if only this interminable mud would just dry up… but I am very much enjoying the longer days coming this year. May your coming year be your most blessed yet, Sarah
OH golly -- lambs!!! What bliss--if more blissful if everyone isn't totally muddy. We're supposedly in for a couple of days more of rain and then nearly a week of sun. VERY excited about this. And I trust/hope that you get it all at the same time, or maybe even sooner...
Fortunately everyone is shorn already so the babies can find their mama’s teats without fear of endless futile attempts at latching on to muddy filthy wool instead {shudder}. Ah, the vagaries of shepherding in wet western Cascadia!
Always fun and inspirational! I love your posts! And Beryl!
I so prefer watching you finish rather than embarking on my own. 😳🤣 Thank you so much for sharing. And do You love your scissors ✂️ ? They make an exquisite sound that sounds like they are super sharp!
H! Like helping someone else clean their house rather than taking up mop and broom on one's own floors.... I have found that if I go right at it I'm far more successful at doing finish work. Putting it off just leads to more putting it off. If I can just "trick" myself into doing one tiny step to begin, I soon find I"m IN IT--which is so very helpful for some crazy reason.
I LOVE your technique!! A thousand, no-- a million-- thanks for sharing it! --especially the twining!
You are SO welcome.
Yes, all the finishing techniques. of which you have given us such lovely videos, are in Peter Collingwood's book and are ones that I used for so many linen warp rugs - having learned from those pages. With one tiny exception: I am not friends with sewing machines, even though I have one. It does make a useful weight to keep the weaving from shifting around while playing with warps.
Sewing machine as weight--another brilliant Michael Rohde invention. Well, except given that mine is a treadle in a cabinet I'd have to work on the floor. I have a covered brick and a bowl of stones and shells that I use to hold the tapestry steady while I tug and twine. Love knowing we're doing the same things-- and that Peter Collingwood made sure it all happened.
Peter Collingwood has launched so many of us on our collective textile journeys, has he not? We owe so much the techniques he (and you) have taught us…
Wool Girl - so true for me. I like using other plant fibers more in basket weaving and keep the two in their wonderful places in my life. (So much to learn....) I really appreciated seeing you weave the ends and finishing the boarders. I have been doing that but to see the 8 warp twine was a pleasure. It's about the hands.......Thank you Sarah!!
YOu're so welcome Eileen. And yes to the fascinating personalities of plant and wool fibers and who wants to be where--and when. It took me so long to fall for plant fibers as weft, and even so, when I go back to wool I'm amazed at how receptive and supple it is. And lightweight! A linen tapestry is a dense creature to be sure.... Both of us Wool girls at heart forever, methinks
Excellent post and videos!! Thank you so much for showing all the finishing process. It's not my favorite part (for weaving or knitting), but I'm trying to see it as a 'meditation time.' I also love the photo of little mushrooms! There is a whole universe down there! Maybe you have read "Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses" by Robin Wall Kimmerer? Thanks!
I do indeed know The book Gathering Moss. It's on my "to read" pile. Maybe time to bring it closer to the top as those little beauties are just so magical, are they not..